Ozzie Guillen suspended five games

"The Marlins acknowledge the seriousness of the comments attributed to Guillen," the Marlins said in a statement. "The pain and suffering caused by Fidel Castro cannot be minimized, especially in a community filled with victims of the dictatorship."

Guillen, who inflamed South Florida Cuban community when he was quoted in Time magazine saying "I love Castro," apologized repeatedly to the Cuban and Latin American communities in a statement before a press conference this morning at Marlins Park.

"I feel like I betrayed the Latin American community and I am here to say I am sorry," Guillen said in Spanish. His comments were translated during a live broadcast on ESPN.

"I want to say I am sorry to all the people I hurt indirectly or directly from the bottom of my heart."

Guillen said his comments to Time were made in Spanish and their meaning lost in the translation to English. But, he said: "I don't want to make any excuses."

Guillen pledged to "do everything in my power to make it better."

Guillen described his comments as stupid and said, "This is the biggest mistake so far of my life."

But when asked if his comments were dumb, Guillen said: "I'm not dumb. You don't have this job if you are dumb."

Marlins bench coach Joey Cora will manage the team during Guillen's suspension, which runs through the remaing two games against the Phillies and a three-game weekend series at home against the Astros.

Marlins first baseman Gaby Sanchez, who is Cuban American, said he was pleased with the way his manager handled the matter on Tuesday. Now, he said, it is time to move on.

"He definitely looked very sincere to me," said Sanchez, who is in Philadelphia with the team. "We just have to move forward and just continue. We're going to keep playing baseball. I think that's what he wants us to do and what we're going to do... have another good game against the Phillies and win."

"Major League Baseball supports today's decision by the Marlins to suspend Ozzie Guillen. As I have often said, Baseball is a social institution with important social responsibilities. All of our 30 Clubs play significant roles within their local communities, and I expect those who represent Major League Baseball to act with the kind of respect and sensitivity that the game's many cultures deserve. Mr. Guillen's remarks, which were offensive to an important part of the Miami community and others throughout the world, have no place in our game."

Guillen flew to Miami after his team's 6-2 win in Philadelphia on Monday. He said he will fly back to Philadelphia to address the team, which plays the Phillies on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. The Marlins were off on Tuesday.

Guillen's comments were particularly stinging to a Miami-Dade community that helped finance the team's new $515 million ballpark in Little Havana. It also is a blow to the Marlins attempt to market the team to Miami-Dade's Latin community and in Latin American American countries.

Guillen said he would take full and sole responsibility for his comments and attempted to deflect criticism from the organization and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.

"Continue to support the Marlins. Continue to support the players. Continue to suipport this great thing right now. "

Later, in comments translated to English on ESPN, Guillen said: "I don't think the team should pay for it. I don't think the organization should pay for it."

On Tuesday morning, state fire marshals restricted access to the interview room at Marlins Park, which holds about 200, after it was filled to capacity.

Guillen has been under fire since reports surfaced that the upcoming edition of Time magazine quotes him as saying, "I love Fidel Castro."

He later amended his comment, saying: "I respect Fidel Castro. You know why? A lot of people have wanted to kill Fidel Castro for the last 60 years, but that [expletive] is still there."

On Monday, Guillen said he has been troubled and unable to sleep since the story broke.

"I feel sad and a couple days stuff in my stomach," he said. "Not because what I did, just because I know I hurt a lot of people. And I'm going to make it clear, especially for me. … I told the Marlins I want to fly as soon as I can. [Tuesday] is a day off. I'd rather be in Miami clear everything up. I think that's the best for everyone."

Guillen said he has spoken to a number of people with ties to Cuba and offered apologies, including long-time Marlins Spanish announcer Felo Ramirez.

Ramirez said Guillen is taking the proper steps by returning to Miami and address the issue as soon as possible.